From the brawl to the tunnel: The version of the suspects in the murder of Eldar Dayan
It all started with a brawl in a grove: according to the suspects' version, they fled in a vehicle convinced they had run over one of the young men, changed the license plate, and hid from the police. Two of them fled into a tunnel, while Eldar Dayan was left behind. Weeks later his body was found - and they became suspects in the murder.
One of the suspects in the murder of Eldar Dayan went out on Tuesday with Yamar Sharon investigators to reconstruct the events that took place about three weeks ago in the Petah Tikva area. He led them between the points where he, his friend, and Dayan passed - from the grove where it all started, through the gas station from which they fled, and to the tunnel where they hid from the police.
According to the suspect's version, Eldar Dayan and his two friends arrived the night before the incident at a grove near the Yarkon River, traveling in Dayan's vehicle. The three remained to sleep, drank, and smoked. The next day, a group of young residents of Petah Tikva approached them, and an argument turned into a brawl.
During the fight, the three entered the vehicle and tried to flee. The suspect recounted that one of the young men from the other group hung onto the car's windshield. They continued driving, convinced they had hit and run him over. This thought dictated their actions in the hours that followed.
The three stopped near a gas station, changed the license plate, and tried to hide the vehicle. Upon noticing someone watching them and seeing a patrol car arrive, they assumed the police were looking for them due to the hit-and-run. They fled back towards the grove. During the reconstruction, it was revealed the vehicle had no insurance and the driver lacked a license.
The group split up: Maxim and Omri ran ahead, while Dayan remained behind. The two, knowing of a tunnel in the area and fearing police pursuit, decided to hide inside it, assuming Dayan, who was faster, had escaped on his own.
The suspect told investigators that Dayan was injured in the brawl, stating: "We hit and were hit."
Hiding in the tunnel
A surprise during the reconstruction occurred inside the tunnel. The suspect revealed he had lost his mobile phone in a water well while hiding there. He led investigators to the spot, and the device was recovered.
The day after the brawl, the two friends left the area, walked, and boarded a bus to Dimona. There, they told Dayan's ex-partner and relatives what had happened. Eventually, under pressure from Dayan's family, they provided their version to the police.
However, upon their initial arrest, they chose to remain silent, still convinced Dayan was hiding somewhere and fearing admission of their post-brawl actions. During a recorded conversation in a patrol car, the two expressed anger at Dayan, claiming he had set them up and saying they would "fine" him for not turning himself in when he returned.
A turning point in the investigation
The case took a dramatic turn last week when Dayan's body was found near the search area. Central District Commander, Nitzav Amir Cohen, transferred the case to Yamar Sharon, and the two friends became suspects in the murder.
Their new defense team clarified the severity of their situation, leading them to cooperate more fully. Their correspondence with Dayan's mother and ex-partner does not currently contradict their version and may even support it.
However, the murder suspicions remain. Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death, though the body's condition may make findings inconclusive. Simultaneously, the members of the other group involved in the brawl are being interrogated. A court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to request an extension of the suspects' detention.
